Image forming apparatus having detachable IC card

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main body having an image forming portion and a first indicating device for indicating an accumulated number of copies the image forming portion, and an IC card detachable from the main body. The IC card includes a second indicating device for indicating the accumulated number of copies when the IC card is attached. The IC card further includes an arithmetic operation key for inputting a numerical calculation expression. A numerical calculation will be carried out in accordance with the arithmetic operation key. Finally, the IC card will have first and second states and the image forming apparatus will be switched between operable and inoperable conditions depending on the first and second states

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body including image forming means for forming an image;   a detachable member being detachable from said main body and including an arithmetic operation key for inputting a specific numerical calculation expression;   connection means for connecting said detachable member to said main body with said arithmetic operation key being exposed to be operable; and   arithmetic operation means, when said detachable member is being connected to said main body, for carrying out a numerical calculation in accordance with the operation of said arithmetic operation key.   
     
     
       2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said arithmetic operation key serves to designate division.   
     
     
       3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising control means for controlling said image forming means based on a result of the numerical calculation carried out by said arithmetic operation means.   
     
     
       4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said control means controls said image forming means so that the result of numerical calculation carried out by said arithmetic operation means is used for an image forming magnification.   
     
     
       5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said main body has a numerical input key for inputting a numerical value, and said arithmetic operation means performs numerical calculation according to the operations of said arithmetic operation key and said numerical input key.   
     
     
       6. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body including image forming means for forming an image;   a storage medium device detachable from said main body;   switching means for switching a state of said storage medium device between a first state and a second state;   determining in means for determining whether the state of said storage medium device is the first state or the second state when said storage medium device is attached to said main body; and   control means for setting said image forming means in an operable state and in an inoperable state,   said control means, when said storage medium device is attached to said main body, switching a state of said image forming means from said inoperable state to said operable state based on a result of determination by said determining means.   
     
     
       7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said inoperable state is a power saving state in which power consumption is lower than that of said operable state.   
     
     
       8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said inoperable state is a state in which power supply to said imaging forming means is stopped.   
     
     
       9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said switching means comprises key means provided on said storage medium device.   
     
     
       10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said key means includes a power source key for turning ON/OFF a power source of said storage medium device.   
     
     
       11. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body including paper feeding means for feeding a sheet of paper and image forming means for forming an image on the sheet fed by said paper feeding means;   counting means provided in said main body for counting an accumulating total number of image forming processes carried out by said image forming means;   storing means provided in said main body for storing the accumulating total number counted by said counting means; and   a detachable member being detachable from said main body and including indication means for indicating an arbitrary value and control means for controlling said indication means to indicate the accumulating total number stored in said storing means.   
     
     
       12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detachable member includes second storing means for storing a number of image forming processes carried out by said image forming means when said detachable member is attached to said main body; and   said control means causes said indication means to indicate said number of image forming processes stored in said second storing means,   
     
     
       13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detachable member includes determining means for determining whether or not said detachable member is attached to said main body; and   said control means causes said indication means to indicate said accumulating total number stored in said storing means when said determining means determines that said detachable member is attached to said main body.   
     
     
       14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detachable member includes storage means for storing data to be supplied to said main body when said detachable member is attached to said main body; and   said control means causes said indication means to indicate the data stored in said storage means when said detachable member is not attached to said main body and to indicate said accumulating total number stored in said storing means when said detachable member is attached to said main body.   
     
     
       15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the data stored in said storage means is used for designating an operation mode of said image forming means.   
     
     
       16. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body including image forming means for forming an image, counting means for counting a number of image forming processes carried out by said image forming means, and storage means for storing said number of said image forming processes counted by said counting means;   a detachable member being detachable from said main body and including numerical value indicating means for indicating a numerical value; and   control means for causing said numerical value indicating means to indicate the number of image forming processes stored in said storage means.   
     
     
       17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: said counting means for counting a number of image forming processes when said detachable member is being attached to said main body; and   second storage means for storing the number of image forming processes counted by said second counting means, wherein   said control means causes said numerical value indicating means to selectively indicate one of the number of image forming processes stored in said storage means and the number of image forming processes stored in said second storage means.   
     
     
       18. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body including image forming means for forming an image, counting means for counting a number of image forming processes carried out by said image forming means, storage means for storing said number of image forming processes counted by said counting means, and first numerical value indicating means for indicating a numerical value;   a detachable member being detachable from said main body and including second numerical value indicating means; and   control means for causing said first numerical value indicating means to indicate said number of image forming processes when said detachable member is not attached to said main body, and for causing said second numerical value indicating means to indicate said number of image forming proceses when said detachable member is attached to said main body.   
     
     
       19. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body including image forming means for forming an image, counting means for counting a number of image forming processes carried out by said image forming means, storage means for storing said number of image forming processes counted by said counting means, and first numerical value indicating means for indicating a numerical value;   a detachable member being detachable from said main body and including second numerical value indicating means for indicating a numerical value;   key means to be manually operated by an operator;   detecting means for detecting whether or not said detachable member is attached to said main body; and   control means responsive to said key means and detecting means for causing said first numerical value indicating means to indicate said number of image forming processes in response to operation of said key means when said detachable member is not attached to said main body, and for causing said second numerical value indicating means to indicate said number of image forming processes in response to operation of said key means when said detachable member is attached to said main body.   
     
     
       20. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body including image forming means for forming an image;   a storage medium device being detachable from said main body and including a numerical value input key for inputting a numerical value, an arithmetic operation key for inputting the type of an arithmetic operation, arithmetic operation means for performing an arithmetic operation processing in response to inputs provided by said numerical value input key and said arithmetic operation key and storage means for storing a result of the arithmetic operation carried out by said arithmetic operation means; and   control means for controlling said image forming means based on the result of the arithmetic operation stored in said storage means when said storage medium device is attached to said main body.   
     
     
       21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said arithmetic operation key is a key for designating division.   
     
     
       22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said control means controls said image forming means so that the result of the arithmetic operation stored in said storage means is used for an image forming magnification.   
     
     
       23. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main body including image forming means for forming an image;   said indication means provided in said main body for indicating information;   operating means provided in said main body to be operated by an operator;   control means for causing said first indication means to indicate predetermined information based on an operation of said operating means; and   a detachable member being detachable from said main body and including second indication means for indicating information wherein   said control means causes said second indication means to indicate said predetermined information based on an operation of said operating means when said detachable member is being attached to said main body.